The FAA's 2016 regulations rule that consumer drone pilots must be what minimum age?

14 years old

16 years old

In many states, 16 years old is also the minimum age for driver's licenses.

18 years old

Question 11 of 30

What's the top speed of the MQ-1 Predator?

320 miles per hour (515 kilometers per hour)

135 miles per hour

It's not particularly fast, but the drone can cruise for long periods of time waiting for a chance to strike.

210 miles per hour

Question 12 of 30

According to FAA drone regulations in the Part 107 rule, what is the maximum weight for consumer drones?

55 pounds (25 kilograms)

At 55 pounds, drones could cause plenty of damage if they crashed into the wrong place at the wrong time.

38 pounds

21 pounds

Question 13 of 30

True or false: U.S. consumers must register their drones with the FAA.

true

If your drone weighs more than half a pound, you must register it with the FAA; this process can be completed online.

false

Question 14 of 30

Why did Iceland ban the use of consumer drones at Vatnajokull National Park?

to protect falcon habitat

The top reason was to protect falcons, but the idea is to preserve the natural experience for all guests, too.

One drone nearly collided with a plane.

because they are super annoying to other visitors

Question 15 of 30

Vayu is a company that builds drones for what purpose?

medicine

Vayu is making drones that can deliver medicine to remote rural locations or even retrieve samples for testing.

firefighting

spying

Question 16 of 30

True or false: With appropriate lighting, you can fly a consumer drone after sunset and before sunrise.

true

false

Consumer drones are for daylight hours only, otherwise you'll run afoul of the law.

Question 17 of 30

FAA regulations say that you CANNOT fly a drone within how many miles of sporting events that have 30,000 or more spectators?

3 miles (5 kilometers)

Large sporting events are no-fly zones for hobbyist drones. Drones must be kept at a distance of at least 3 miles.

5 miles

8 miles

Question 18 of 30

As of 2015, the FAA indicated that most "close encounters" (or potentially dangerous close calls) happened when drones flew at what altitude?

500 feet (152 meters)

1,000 feet

2,000 feet

The median altitude for close calls was around 2,000 feet, far higher than the legal limit of 400 feet.

Question 19 of 30

What was the end result when a tourist crashed a drone into Yellowstone National Park's Grand Prismatic Spring in 2014?

A diver had to retrieve the drone.

A park ranger shocked the tourist with a stun gun.

The tourist was fined.

The drone remained lost in the iconic spring, and the tourist was fined thousands of dollars for disregarding the law.

Question 20 of 30

True or false: In the U.S., it is illegal to fly a drone over other people.

true

FAA regulations specify that you cannot fly a drone over other people, or you could be fined.

false

Question 21 of 30

Per FAA rules, what's the maximum ground speed of a consumer drone?

100 miles per hour (161 kilometers per hour)

At 100 miles per hour, many novice operators may find their drones making craters before they get the hang of flying.

50 miles per hour

25 miles per hour

Question 22 of 30

How many Americans registered their hobbyist drones from December 2015 to February 2016?

about 330,000

Three hundred thirty thousand is only about one-third of people who bought drones and were supposed to complete the registration process. If people continue to buck the process, the laws may become more stringent.

about 570,000

about 610,000

Question 23 of 30

"Micro" drones are those that have what maximum weight?

1.8 pounds (.8 kilogram)

3.5 pounds

4.4 pounds

Drones that weigh less than 4.4 pounds are in the "micro" category, but they can still fly (illegally) thousands of feet high.

Question 24 of 30

True or false: If you're flying a drone within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of an airport, you should contact the control tower in advance to announce your activity.

true

false

Ten miles is an excessive cushion, but best practices state that if you're 5 miles or closer, it's a good idea to let airport workers know about your drone.

Question 25 of 30

What is the maximum fine for flying a drone in U.S. national parks?

$100

$1,000

$5,000

In addition to a $5,000 fine, violators can be banned from parks for a certain time period.

Question 26 of 30

What's the maximum jail time for illegally flying a drone in a national park?

60 days

six months

Habitual offenders (or those who cause damage or harm) could wind up in the slammer for half a year.

one year

Question 27 of 30

True or false: A visual observer (VO) is required for operators who fly drones within 10 miles of any airport.

true

false

A VO is not required by FAA regulations, but if you have a tendency to lose sight of your drone, a VO is a very good idea.

Question 28 of 30

What is the Boeing Echo Voyager?

an ocean drone

At more than 50 feet (15 meters) long, the Voyager will glide through the ocean depths, collecting information for military, commercial and science projects.

a crawling drone

a space drone

Question 29 of 30

As of 2016, which company sells the most consumer drones?

Parrot

3D Robotics

DJI

Chinese company DJI sells some of the most popular drones in the world. Its Phantom series is especially affordable and powerful.

Question 30 of 30

As of 2016, how many businesses have received FAA permission to proceed with their commercial operation plans?

more than 900

more than 5,000

More than 5,000 businesses have received permission. Millions of drones are being sold in the U.S. alone, and some studies say that drones could help create more than 100,000 jobs in the next decade.